Combined frame and elevatable pool table assembly

ABSTRACT

A pool table having fold-up legs normally fits in an overhead rectangular frame fastened to the ceiling of a room. Cables are removably fastened at one end to the table and extend up and over pulleys supported by the frame and then down to a winch on which the cables are wound. When the winch is operated to allow the cables to unwind, they will lower the table from the frame so that its unfolded legs can then rest on the floor beneath the frame. A legless ping pong table rests on top of the pool table and can be lifted up into the frame by means of the cables whenever it is desired to play pool on the pool table. When the tables are stored in the frame, they may be held by a series of hooks so that tension may be taken off the cables. An additional feature of the frame is the inclusion of light sources placed around its periphery so that the frame can also function as a light fixture.

United States Patent [191 Liermann [451 July 3,1973

1 1 COMBINED FRAME AND ELEVATABLE POOL TABLE ASSEMBLY 1 Inventor: C etlssl il+ srmennt35?!,S

Road, Murrysville, Pa. 15668 [22] Filed: Jan. 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 219,029

[52] US. Cl. 273/5 B, 108/149, 240/3,

273/5 R, 273/30 [51] Int. Cl. A6311 15/00, A63d 15/04 [58] Field of Search 273/2, 3 R, 3 A,

273/3 C, 5 R, 5 B, 6, 8, 11 R, 11 C, 14; 52/36; 104/10 R, 10 A, 10 B, 10 C, 10 D, 10 E, 10

F; 108/42, 90, 149; 212/11; 214/658; 248/328, 329, 332,; 312/247; 240/3, 9 R, 73 BC, 73 LD, 73 DA, 78 CF, 78 DA, 78 H, 78

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,201,153 5/1940 Brown 240/78 LD UX 2,844,428 7/1958 Puntenney. 108/149 X 1,819,516 8/1931 I Kelly 312/247 UX 2,115,115 4/1938 Matteson et 1. 273/5 B 2,484,678 10/1949 Blumer 108/42 1/1952 Vrooman ..108/42 7/1971 Loomans 108/149 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner- R. T. Stouffier Attorney- Brown, Murray, Flick & Peckham [57] ABSTRACT A pool table having fold-up legs normally tits in an overhead rectangular frame fastened to the ceiling of a room. Cables are removably fastened at one end to the table and extend up and over pulleys supported by the frame and then down to a winch on which the cables are wound. When the winch; is operated to allow the cables to unwind, they will lower the table from the frame so that its unfolded legs can then rest on the floor beneath the frame. A legless ping pong table rests on top of the pool table and can be lifted up into the frame by means of the cables whenever it is desired to play pool on the pool table. When the tables are stored in the frame, they may be held by a series of hooks so that tension may be taken off the cables. An additional fea-v ture of the frame is the inclusion of light sources placed around its periphery so that the frame can also function as a light fixture.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented July 3, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented July 3, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 3, 1973 COMBINED FRAME AND ELEVATABLE POOL TABLE ASSEMBLY Ping pong tables or pool tables are frequently found in houses, but they nearly always require a separate gameroom because either kind of table occupies a considerable amount of space. Most houses, however, are not provided with gamerooms, while people who do have gamerooms in their houses may not want such large tables occupying space in those rooms all of the time as they may want to use that space for other purposes frequently or at least occasionally. Also, most gamerooms are not large enough to accommodate both a pool table and a ping pong table, so a choice has to be made as to which table should be installed.

It is an object of this invention to provide game apparatus permitting either a pool table or a ping pong table to be set up in the same room, but quickly and easily moved out of the way into a storage position when not in use.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view;

FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a pool table deposited on the floor and a ping pong table being lifted away from it; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are vertical cross sections taken on the lines IV--IV and V--V, respectively, of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a rectangular metal frame 1 is formed from metal channels 2 disposed on edge with their top andbottom flanges projecting outwardly. The frame is intended to be fastened to the ceiling 3 of a room. For this purpose the upper flanges of the channels may be provided with openings 4, through which fastening members can extend to secure the frame to the ceiling. Secured to the outer surfaces of the channels are electric sockets 7 that receive florescent lighting tubes 8 so that the frame serves as a lighting fixture. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, it is provided with openings 9 that allow light to shine into the area surrounded by it. The lighting tubes preferably are concealed behind translucent panels 10 that rest on the lower flanges of the frame and slope upwardly and outwardly from them.

The inside dimensions of the frame are such that a standard size pool table 12 can fit inside the frame, as

shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The table legs 13 (FIG. 3) can be folded up against the bottom of the table in any suitable manner, such as by pivoting their upper ends to the table. They are braced in their unfolded or down position by means of folding links 14 also pivoted to the bottom of the table and to the legs.

Another feature of this invention is that means are provided for lifting the table up into the frame when it is desired to move the table out of the way in order to free the space it occupied for other purposes. Accordingly, cables 16 are removably fastened to the table, such as by hooking them into rings 17 attached to the outer ends of bars 18 projecting from opposite sides of the table as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. When the cables are not attached to the bars, the bars are retracted into or beneath the table. The cables extend from the bars up through the frame and over pulleys 20 mounted on brackets 21 secured to the top of the frame and extending up between the ceiling joists. The four pulleys are set at such angles to the frame that all four cables can extend to a winch 22 (FIG. 1) mounted on a wall of the room. The ends of the cables are attached to the winch, which normally can be turned by a crank although it could be motor-driven. When the crank is turned to wind up the cables on the winch, the table is lifted from the floor. The legs then can be folded up against the bottom of the table and the table then elevated into the frame.

As a safety precaution and also to take the weight of the table off the cables while it is stored overhead in the frame, the frame may be provided with latching members to suport the raised table. These members preferably are in the form of L-shape hooks 25, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper ends of which are pivoted to posts 26 mounted on the pulley brackets. As the table is pulled up into the frame, the lower ends of the hooks are first retracted and then are swung under the projecting table bars so that when the table is lowered slightly it will rest upon the hooks. Preferably, the hooks are swung into latching position by coil springs 27 connecting them with the bottoms of brackets 21. To unlatch the hooks from the table, they are all retracted simultaneously by ropes 28 attached to them. The four ropes extend from the hooks around pulleys 29 connected to vertical rectangular frame 30 mounted on top of frame 1, and the outer ends of these ropes are attached to a single rope 31 that can extend over to a pulley 32 on the wall of the room and down to a location near the winch, where the rope can be attached to any suitable anchor bracket.

It will be seen that when the pool table is resting on its legs on the floor, with the cables disconnected from it and pulled up to the frame, the table can be used for its intended purpose with good illumination from the overhead lighting fixture. When the table is not in use, the cables are lowered and'fastened to its side bars and then the winch is operated to raise the table up into the frame where it will be supported out of the way by means of the latching hooks 25.

While the pool table is resting on the floor, it also can serve as a support for a standard size ping pong table 33 without legs that will also fit inside frame 1. Such a table rests on top of the pool table and, as shown in FIG. 3, may be provided with downwardly projecting pins 34 inserted in holes in the rim of the table so that the ping pong table cannot be moved horizontally accidentally. Of course, while the ping pong table is in use, the pool table is covered by it and cannot be used. When it is desired to use the pool table, the cables are lowered from the overhead frame 1 and attached to rings 35 on opposite sides of the ping pong table. Then the winch is operated to raise the ping pong table up into the frame so that the pool table is uncovered and ready for use. When the game is finished, the ping pong table is again lowered onto the pool table, the cables are disconnected from the ping pong table and connected to the pool table bars 18, and then the winch is operated to lift both tables together up into the frame, where they will rest on the latching hooks. Before the cables are pulled up into the frame after leaving both tables on the floor, it is advisable to attach weights to the lower ends of the cables to aid in lowering them again when it is desired to connect themto either table.

With this invention, a room that is too small to accommodate both a pool table and a ping pong table can be provided with both and yet the space occupied by them can be cleared whenever they are not in use by lifting them up into the combination supporting frame and lighting fixture. This makes it possible to use the room for any other desired purpose with which the presence of a pool table or a ping pong table would interfere.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

lclaim:

1. Game apparatus comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be fastened to the ceiling of a room, a pool table normally fitting in the frame and having legs folded up against its bottom, latching means supported by the frame and engageable with the table therein to support the table, pulleys supported by the frame above the table, cables removably fastened at one end to the table and extending up and over the pulleys, a winch remote from the frame fastened to the other end of the cables and on which the cables are wound, and means for releasing the latching means from the table when it is desired to lower it, whereby when the cables are allowed to unwind from the winch they will lower the table from the frame so that its unfolded legs can rest on the floor beneath the frame.

2. Game apparatus according to claim 1, in which said latching means include hook members pivotally supported by the frame, springs urging said members to latching position for supporting the table, and means for manually pulling said members out of latching position.

3. Game apparatus according to claim 2, including means mounted on top of said frame and extending above it for pivotally supporting said pulleys and hook members.

4. Game apparatus comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be fastened to the ceiling of a room, a pool table normally fitting in the frame and having legs folded up against its bottom, pulleys supported by the frame above the table, bars projecting from opposite sides of the table, cables detachably connected at one end to said bars and extending up and over the pulleys, and a winch remote from the frame fastened to the other end of the cables and on which the cables are wound, whereby when the cables are allowed to unwind from the winch they will lower the table from the frame so that its unfolded legs can rest on the floor beneath the frame, said bars being retractable under the lowered table when the cables are disconnected from them.

5. Game apparatus comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be fastened to the ceiling of a room, a pool table normally fitting in the frame and having legs folded up against its bottom, a ping pong table resting on the pool table, pulleys supported by the frame above the tables, cables removably fastened at one end to the pool table and extending up and over the pulleys, and a winch remote from the frame fastened to the other end of the cables and on which the cables are wound, whereby when the cables are allowed to unwind from the winch they will lower the tables from the frame so that the unfolded pool tables legs can rest on the floor beneath the frame, and means at opposite sides of the ping pong table top for detachable connection to said cables after they have been unfastened from the lowered pool table to thereby permit the ping pong table top to be lifted up into said frame so that the pool table can be used.

6. Game apparatus according to claim 5, in which the pool table has a rim provided with vertical holes, the

apparatus including pins extending downwardly from the ping pong table top and into said vertical holes for holding said top against lateral displacement as long as it rests on the pool table.

7. Game apparatus comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be fastened to the ceiling of a room and extend downwardly therefrom, the frame having vertical side members, a pool table normally fitting in the frame and surrounded by said side members and having legs folded up against its bottom, electric lights around the outside of the frame supported by the outside of the vertical side members, translucent panels supported by said side members outwardly of said lights and concealing them, pulleys supported by the frame above the table, cables removably fastened at one end of the table and extending up and over the pulleys, and a winch remote from the frame fastened to the other end of the cables and on which the cables are wound, whereby when the cables are allowed to unwind from the winch they will lower the table from the frame so that its unfolded legs can rest on the floor beneath the frame. 

1. Game apparatus comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be fastened to the ceiling of a room, a pool table normally fitting in the frame and having legs folded up against its bottom, latching means supported by the frame and engageable with the table therein to support the table, pulleys supported by the frame above the table, cables removably fastened at one end to the table and extending up and over the pulleys, a winch remote from the frame fastened to the other end of the cables and on which the cables are wound, and means for releasing the latching means from the table when it is desired to lower it, whereby when the cables are allowed to unwind from the winch they will lower the table from the frame so that its unfolded legs can rest on the floor beneath the frame.
 2. Game apparatus according to claim 1, in which said latching means include hook members pivotally supported by the frame, springs urging said members to latching position for supporting the table, and means for manually pulling said members out of latching position.
 3. Game apparatus according to claim 2, including means mounted on top of said frame and extending above it for pivotally supporting said pulleys and hook members.
 4. Game apparatus comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be fastened to the ceiling of a room, a pool table normally fitting in the frame and having legs folded up against its bottom, pulleys supported by the frame above the table, bars projecting from opposite sides of the table, cables detachably connected at one end to said bars and extending up and over the pulleys, and a winch remote from the frame fastened to the other end of the cables and on which the cables are wound, whereby when the cables are allowed to unwind from the winch they will lower the table from the frame so that its unfolded legs can rest on the floor beneath the frame, said bars being retractable under the lowered table when the cables are disconnected from them.
 5. Game apparatus comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be fastened to the ceiling of a room, a pool table normally fitting in the frame and having legs folded up against its bottom, a ping pong table resting on the pool table, pulleys supported by the frame above the tables, cables removably fastened at one end to the pool table and extending up and over the pulleys, and a winch remote from the frame fastened to the other end of the cables and on which the cables are wound, whereby when the cables are allowed to unwind from the winch they will lower the tables from the frame so that the unfolded pool table''s legs can rest on the floor beneath the frame, and means at opposite sides of the ping pong table top for detachable connection to said cables after they have been unfastened from the loweRed pool table to thereby permit the ping pong table top to be lifted up into said frame so that the pool table can be used.
 6. Game apparatus according to claim 5, in which the pool table has a rim provided with vertical holes, the apparatus including pins extending downwardly from the ping pong table top and into said vertical holes for holding said top against lateral displacement as long as it rests on the pool table.
 7. Game apparatus comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be fastened to the ceiling of a room and extend downwardly therefrom, the frame having vertical side members, a pool table normally fitting in the frame and surrounded by said side members and having legs folded up against its bottom, electric lights around the outside of the frame supported by the outside of the vertical side members, translucent panels supported by said side members outwardly of said lights and concealing them, pulleys supported by the frame above the table, cables removably fastened at one end of the table and extending up and over the pulleys, and a winch remote from the frame fastened to the other end of the cables and on which the cables are wound, whereby when the cables are allowed to unwind from the winch they will lower the table from the frame so that its unfolded legs can rest on the floor beneath the frame. 